I have always gotten a kick out of Joe Pesci; one of the best actors of comedy in the 1990's. With that quirky, whiny voice and that funny little walk, Pesci is one of those unique comedians who adds just the right touch of humor to his character. Pesci is no different in 1991's "The Super," an absolutely hilarious film from beginning to end, with emotional touches underlying the film. Though a tremendously funny film, it also touches on the reality of the inner city and the conditions that many people have to live in. Most of all, it gets to the heart in that the film shows that you may live in a place you hate and are around people you may despise, but when difficult times come up, you realize how important they are to you. You grow to have respect for people and places you may not have had respect for in the past. You live in certain situations long enough to where you feel a part of it and want to protect it. All these things happen in life frequently and it is wonderfully portrayed in "The Super." After only a few viewings, "The Super" has become an instant comedy classic with my family and me. It has got to be one of the most underrated comedy films around.

It is the apartment complex everyone dreams about. With an awesome view of the scummy streets of New York, filthy toilets and sinks that overflow in disgusting liquid, heating that won't work and electricity that shorts out, what more could one ask for? Why should the residents complain of being cold, the smell of urine in the hallways, rats in the rooms and doors that won't open or close as needed? After all, this place is a charmer!

Meet Louis Kritski (played by Joe Pesci), the pint-sized son of a rich and mean slumlord. Louis is a swift-talking wise guy, who walks like a miniature ape and is under the delusion that he can impress the ladies. Louis was fortunate enough to inherit his father's "wonderful" complex as a birthday present. It is all his to do nothing with, while all the while greedily grabbing up the rent money from all the residents. Ever since he was a boy, Kritski's no-good father (played by Vincent Gardenia) always told him that when you own a piece of property you do nothing with it because if you give an inch, they'll take a mile. Therefore, Kritski's father forbids him to be merciful to the needy residents in the complex.

Unfortunately, Louis's neglect of the building and it's people leads him straight to court where he is ordered to live in one of the apartments until he gets the complex up to code. Now Louis is having hands-on experience of what the residents are going through. His sink "burps," his toilet is flowing over with scum, the only chair in the room is falling apart and he cannot play his radio because the electrical socket doesn't work. He is living in a neighborhood where cars such as his cherry red Corvette are stripped down to nothing, convenience stores sell bread that's 500 years old, the best liquor he can get is a small bottle of cheap wine and he learns quickly how to duck from bullets. Louis deals with the constant noise of the residents from the loud music and partying, to family arguments over a bike, to angry residents pounding on his door. Needless to say, Louis could never have much of a social life under the circumstances, especially with his girlfriend.

The residents and people from the street all try to get the best of this feisty, uncaring slumlord to create some very memorable comedic scenes, from tricking Louis out of cash in a card game, to giving him false hope and taking advantage of him on the basketball court, to enticing him to join in the partying noise in the complex. The neat thing about this film is that we get a variety of people of different backgrounds. We see Louis "drop in" on a very agitated and freaked-out Hispanic family, get firm lessons from a wise talking African-American kid named Tito with a drug-dealing father and we see Louis complain of too much noise to a religious preacher who is trying to block out the rats in his apartment.

The residents of the complex and the comedic adventures and lessons Louis has with them somehow lead him to take a second look at himself and try to become a better person. But is he doing it for himself or for all of them? Actually living in the shoes of the residents in his complex may have triggered something in this heartless slumlord after all. But when Daddy-dearest steps in and threatens to do unthinkable damage to Louis's complex and the residents within it, Louis must stand up to his father in a way he has never done before and perhaps make the biggest choice of his life.

"The Super" is an all-around very entertaining and funny movie that will never leave you bored but only your sides splitting. Pesci was perfectly cast for this role as Louis, and I only wish he had made more films like this. Just looking at his facial and body expressions makes you want to laugh at times; especially when he appears in his ridiculous basketball uniform of knee high socks, sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt and attempts to egotistically take some street basketball players to school on the court. Also worth noting is the humorous scene of him dancing and partying with the residents to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Pesci has definitely done some of his best work in the film and it is sure to be fun-filled entertainment for all. I must also mention that the R-rating is for language; just a word of warning for those with younger kids.

THIS IS NOT A DVD!!! THIS IS A 12" LASERDISC AND WILL NOT PLAY IN A DVD PLAYER